Cotton-seed-delinting machine.



PATENTED MAY 1966.

I W. A. RAGSDALR COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1905.

4 SHEETSSHBET l.

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No. 821,254. PATENI'ED MAY 22, 15306.

- W. A. RAGSDALE.

COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. "v2.74, iayw/a/al iilneooca w. Asia/riff PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

"W. A. RAGSDALE. COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1905.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

SEEE

H w? .NM mv w No.-821,254 PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. I W. A. RAGSDALE.

COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0037.18. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

a weufox W Sm GlON, IIHSERICT OF COLUMBIA lilo. 32 1,2 54.

$pecification of Letters Patent.

WlLLlAM ADRUN RAUSEALE, OF NE ldlltlflAillONAL COTTON SEE ORLEANS, LOUlSlANA, ASSIGNOR l) DELlN'lJNG UOllil ANY, OF WASLL A CORPORATION OF .lVlAlNE.

Patented 22, 1906.

Anuiication filed October 18, 1905- Seriel No. 283,357.

To rallwhom it iii/my concern:

it known that l, 'WnJJAn-l Anson :RAGS- DALE, citizen of the United tates, residing at cw Orleans, in the parish of Orleai'is and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful lmprove jnents in Cottonirelinting ldachines, of which the fol- -is specification.

invention relates to an improved c0n-- struction of cotton-seed-delinting machine "or removing the lint from the seed and leaving the latter in a cleaned condition without removing or damaging the hull.

To this end the invention has particularly in view a. practical construction of machine which in use as a delinter subjects the cotton-seed to a thoroush scouring action without cracking or otherwise damaging the seed, thus providinq for placing the some in the best marketable condition.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a dellnting-inschine so constructed as to not only acconr lislthe thorough scouring of the seed to t iorougl ly delint the same, but also providing for the COIHPlGtB separatron end removal of dust,tras 1, and other oreign'matter 4 l hththeseand Wl more readily other objects in view, which appear as the nature of the l ention better understood, the same cons ts in thenovel construction, combination,

d arra ngement of parts, which will. be here .nsl'termore fully described, lllustmted, and

claimed.

The ssentiol features of the Invention in- .volveo in cerryingout the objects above indicatcd are susce-'tible to structural modification Without departing from the scope thereof; but a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure 1 is a, side elevation of a delinting and liulling once with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview thereof. il ig". 5 is s horizontal sectional view on the line 3 of'l ig. 2, Fig. 41's an enlarged. vertical cross-sectional view of the machine on the line 4- of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are side and face elevations, respectively, of a section or hlccl; of one of the abrasive elements or rings.

machine constructed in accord l i l I soeed within Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures oi the drawings.

The machine embodies in its general organization the oppositely-orfsngcd end heads or castings l and 2, constituting supporting members and provided upon their inner sides with the iuvrzudlyproj ecting concentric holding-lianges 3, which receive and. support the opposite ends of an elongated scouring-cylinder, (designated in its entirety by the refer-- ence-uuniersl 1.) T his scouririg-cylinder accommodstes therein an agitator-d run 5, so arranged to provide between the same and the inner Wall of the scouring-cylinder a Working space 6, which ns'weivos the material or seed to be treated. '.l.\- secure the necessary agitation and SCOUlflllg of the seed, it is necessary that a relative rttstion be maintained between the interior scouring-cylinder and the agitator-drum. Hence the re tation of either of these elcmen of the machine would. cil cct the desired result. l'lovw ever, for the pumoses of this eoplication there illustratec. a preferred ei'rmodiment of the invention-that is, to have the scouring-cylinder held stationary and the agitattoodrum mounted for rotation. The drum is designed to rotate at a very high rate of the storming-cylinder to cause tile Working of the seed a' 'ainst and. over the inner scouring-surface oi the soouring-cylin der.

Referring more particularly to struction ofthe scouring-cylinder 4, the same is preferably of a general cylindrical shape and is provided with an inner scouring-elm abrasive rings .7, arranged side by side to provide an ahrasive surface throu hout the entire extent of the scour1ng-cyhn er and held in positionhy suitable supporting means. The preferable supporting means for the abrasive rings coirslsts of an imperforate shee'tunetal shell 8,

the ends of which. arereceived on the hold ing-flanges 3 of the end heads and. which therefore extend longitudinally the full length. of the machine from one end to the other.

There are a plurality of abrasive rings 7, arranged in close-fitting relation side by side Within the supporting shell 8, as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and provide the con-v I discharge-opening 12.

practically a continuous abrasive scouringsurface throughout the scouring-cylinder. It is also preferable in constructing this scouring-surface to form each abrasive ring of a pluralityof matching segmental blocks or 1 sections 9, thus providing a construction in which. every portion of the entire abrasive scouring surface of the cylinder is individually removable and replaceable without dis turbing other unimpaired portions of the scouring-surface. The individual abrasive blocks 9 of each ring 7 are constructed of any substance suitable for delinting and hulling purposes, although it is preferable to employ carborundum for this purpose.

The inner cylindrical scouringsurface of the scouring-cylinder is rendered more positive in its action by providing each of the abrasive rings 7 with a corrugated or scalloped working face 10, which not only increases the area of the active scouring-surface, but also has a retarding effect upon the seed. Furthermore, the inner working face of the scouring-surface of the scouring-cylinder has formed therein a spiral conveyergroove 11. Each individual abrasive block 9 has the working face thereof diagonally crossed by a section of the move 11, so that when all 'the individua blocks 9 of the abrasive dings 7 are assembled the different sections of the groove will match and provide continuous s iral grooves, such as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and which, in connection to the agitatordrum, ser ve .to provide a uniform and positive screw-like feed of the seed from one endof the machine to the other.

The abrasive rings 7, made up of the blocks 9, have been designated as rings on account of their circular sha e within the cylindrical shell 8 therefor, although the said elements 7 are not complete rings in view of the provision of the scouring-cylinder 4 in the top side thereof with a longitudinal suction discharge opening 12. This suction discharge-opening 12 extends the full length of the cylinder and provides communication between the interior working space 6 arid a suction-hood 13, mounted on top of the scouring-cylinder. The suction-hood 1 3 is of a downwardly-flaring form, so as to extend over the side and end edges of the suction The said hood 13 is therefore 0 a slightly-greater width at its base than the opening 12 and is also coextensive in length with the scouring-cylinder. The said hood 13 has the side and end walls thereof converged upwardly to the central outlet-neck 14, with which is suitably connected one end of an air-suction pipe 15, leading to the inlet of a suitable exhaust-fan 16, which provides for maintaining a suction of sufficient intensity to draw out and di charge from the machine loose lint, trash, and any other foreign matter worked from the seed senses within the working s ace 6. Furthermore, the said suction-hoo 13, which is arrangedover the suction discharge-opening 12, is provided in one side thereof with an auxiliary air-inlet 17, designed to be covered and uncovered by the regulating damper or gate 18, which may be manipulated to feed more or less air into the suction-hood to thereby increase or diminish the suction at will. Hence through the medium of the regulating damper or gate 18 the entire delinting action and rapidity of discharge of the delinted seed may be controlled. 1

At the opposite side edges of the suction discharge-opening 12 the edges of the cylindrical supporting-shell 8 have bolted or otherwise fastened thereto, as at 19, the angled retaining-plates 20. These plates extend longitudinally the full length of the shell 8, and beneath the inwardly projecting flanges thereof are arranged longitudinal holding-- bars 21, bearing against the terminal abrasive blocks 9 next to the opening 12 and clamped against the same throu h the medium of the clamping-screws 22, tl ius providing simple and practical means for fastening all of the abrasive blocks of the entire scouring-surface detachably in position within the supporting-shell.

The suction discharge-opening 12 is covered by a segmental separating-screen 23.

This screen 23 constitutes a segment of the scouring-cylinder, and the longitudinal side edges thereof, as at 24, abut against the terminal edges of the abrasive rings next to the inner edgs of the holding-bars 21, so as to form a continuation of the inner surface of the scouring-cylinder, as plainly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The said screen 23 extends the full length and width of the suction discharge-opening and essentially consists of a sheet-metal plate or lates provided therein with continuous paral el rows of transverselydisposed discharge slits or perforations 25, thus making the screen perforate throughout the'entire extent thereof.

The screen 23 not only constitutes a complete closure for the opening 12, but is also designed to be used as a door to permit access to the interior of the machine Whenever it may be necessary. Hence the screen 23 is removable, and to rovide for the roper support and remova of said screen t e perforate plate or plates constituting the same are suitably screwed to a skeleton carryingframe essentially consisting of a luralit of the curved cross-bars 27, the ends of w ich ma be conveniently formed with angled attac ring-feet 28, bolted or otherwise detach: ably fastened to the inwardlyprojecting flanges of the angle plates or irons 20. At this point it ma manner of feeding and. discharging seed andof admitting air to the working space 6 is shown, in the drawings. These means inbe noted that the preferable clude the provision of a feed-spout 29 for the seed, arranged at one end thereof and tending through the suction-hood and the separating-screen that end. The feed.-

ispout 29 is illustrated. as being concentric-- ally supported Within and spaced from the edges of the [ninlet neck or spout 30, which therefore 'orovieiles for admitting air into the lindcr about TGGtl*POllb scouringthe seed, 3y reason of thus L' and about the enteri tion of dust and trash ,nd oto terial 'n. the delinting ac the end. of the ma hine opposite the feed spout :22: a l the a l 30 the scour"- ing-shell provided Witl'i an end seed-dis charge spout or, from Winch the delinted seed are delivered. This seedv discharge spout 3 cons am an e tra air-inlet from that end of the scouring cylinder, and (mnsequently uniform dral and suction is provided for throughout the en tire m aehine,so that the seed which are discl'iarged through the spout are erfectly iree from lint and trash, and hence in the best marhe able condition.

-Referring now to the construction. of the agitator-drum 5, the same essentially consists of a cylindrical body carrying a multiplicity of radiallyprojecting and longitudinally-arranged rigid pressure blades or wings 32. The drun1hody is ot a length coextensive with the, scouring-cylin der and is mounted u on alongitudinal drive-shaft 33,jour nalec at its ends in bearings 34, carried upon the end heads or castings 1 and 2, and the drive-shaft is intended to be driven by any suitable source of power.

A distinctive feature of the present invention resides in the peculiar Form of thepressure-Blades 32. These blades are constructed of fiat strips of steel or equivalent metal and are non-resilient. wings are of a Width nearly equal to the width. of the Working space 6, so as to operate in close proximity with the Working face 10 of the scouring-surface. The prominent mechanical feature of the rigid pressureblades 32 is that the same are of a saw-tooth construction-that is, provided along their outer Working edges with continuous se es of angular teeth 35', which. provide alternati ,5 points andnotches, plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The best results have been obtained by :zrranging the rigid toothed blades or wings 32 in regular longitudinal rows extel'iding from end to end of the drum-body, and by reason oi projeming radially over no drum-body the same will he rotated llz'itwise and present their llat sides to the seed.

its

Various means may be resorted to for fastening the pressure blades or Wings to the (lI'Lllll.-l)()(l although a preferable construo Also the said blades or- 1 tion is sl'iown in the drawings and consists in tact with the inner abrasive surface of the socuring-cylinder, and While the points of the toothed edges oi the blades serve to move the obvious that the seed will freely roll in and out of the notches of the toothed ed es, and .ience will be prevented. from craclring or mashing, While at the same time being held up to the abrasive elements, thus insuring a very effective delinting action which takes the lint off of the ends as Well as'the sides of the seed.

To assist the feeding action through the machine, the agitator-drum has fitted on the end thereof operating beneath the seed-feed spout 29 a spiral starting-flight 39, which immediately starts oil the incoming seed in the direction of the seed-outlet.

construction, operation, and many advanbe readily apparent Without further descripaon.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A cotton-seed-dolintin machine comprising a scouril'ig-cylinder raving an inner abrasive surface provided therein with conveying means, an agitator having a plurality of longitudinal pressure-blades provided with toothed ed es operating in proximity to said surface am? the conveying means thereof, an air-supply for the cylinder and a suction discharge-outlet.

2. In a cottoo-seeddelinting machine, a scouringcylindcr having a lint-discharge, an agitator carrying a plurality of longitudinal toothed edges, and. means for maintaining a relative rotation. of the cylinder and agitator.

in a machine of the class described, a scouring-cylinder having an inner abrasive surface, conveying means for the seed, said scouring-cylinder also having Oppositelydocated seed-inlet and seed-outlet, a suctionrv ohan'iber iii-communication with the orking means for regulating the speed of travel of bolting the blades oi each row, by means of sive members to press the seed in firm conseed against the scouring-surface it Will. be-

From the foregoing it is thought that the tages of the herein-described invention will nrcssuroblades each having continuously-' space of the scouring-cylinder and provided with a damper-controlled. inlet providingthe seed provided for by the conveying means, an independent air-inlet for the cylinder. and an agitator arranged Within the cylinder.

4. In a cotton-seeddelinting machine, a scouring-cylinder having an inner solid abrasive surface, an agitator carrying a plurality of longitudinal rigid pressure-blades having saw-toothed edges operating in proximity to the abrasive surface, and a suction lint-discharge for the cylinder.

' 5. In a cotton-seed-delinting machine, a scouring-shell consisting of a plurality of matching abrasive blocks having sections of a spiral groove therein, and an agitator having toothed pressure-blades.

6. Ina cotton-seed-delinting machine, a scouring-cylinder having an inner solid abrasive surface, and provided with a screenedv suction discharge-opening interrupting the abrasive surface and forming a continuation thereof, a suction-hood arranged over the screened discharge-opening and provided with a damper-controlled auxiliary air-inlet, and an independent air-inlet arranged about the seed-inlet for the scouring-cylinder.

7. In. a machine of the class described, a scouring-cylinder, having a longitudinallyarranged screened suction discharge-opening, said cylinder being also provided at one end with an air-inlet in communication with the outer air and with a seed-feed spout centered within and spaced from the edges of said air-inlet, a seed-discharge opening arranged at the end opposite the feed-spout and also affording an air-inlet, an upwardlyconvergent suction-hood arranged over the screened discharge-opening and having a fan connection therewith, and a rotary agitator arran ed Within the cylinder.

8. n a machine of the class described, a scouring-cylinder provided with a longitudinal suction discharge-opening interrupting its scouring-surface, a screen arranged to cover said opening and. forming a continuation of said scouring-surface, a carryin frame for said screen having a detaehab e support upon the scouringbyhnder, an agitator within the cylinder, and means for maintaining a .draft throu h the screen.

9. In a machine 0 the class described, a scouringcylinder having s irally disposed grooves formed in the woi lr scouring-surface, and a rotating drum carrying blades working in proximity to said grooved surface.

10. In a machine of the class described, a

scouring-cylinder having spirally-disposed grooves formed in the Working face of its scouring-surface, and a rotating drum carrying toothed blades working in proximity to said grooved surface.

11. In a machine of the class described, a scouring-cylinder composed of a multiplicity of abrasive blocks and provided in one side with a suction discharge-opening, block-retaining means fitted to the cylinder at the ing face of itsv edges of the opening, and a screen for said opening having a detachable support upon the block-retaining means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ADRON vRAGrSDALE. Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. DEANE, D. P. WOLHAUPTER. 

